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HOUSING AND LAND
modation under rent control. If the legislation is approved, it will take effect from December 18, 1979. This means that rent increases for all domestic rented accommodation will be limited to 21 per cent every two years and that all tenants will have security of tenure. All previous categories excluded from rent control in the private sector will be covered by the new legislation. The legislation will also propose that in respect of new and fresh lettings there will be no restriction on the amount of rents that may be agreed between landlords and tenants.
In announcing the proposed legislation, the government said that the disadvantages and advantages of introducing rent control to cover all domestic rented accommodation had been weighed carefully. The strong public interest, the anxiety of people who were experi-- encing difficulties in this field, and the possible adverse effects were taken into account.
It is expected that the continuing strong demand for domestic property should continue to encourage developers in their high rate of production. The government's attitude is that the basic and durable long-term answer is to increase the supply of public and private sector housing in Hong Kong.
Land
Following the appointment by the Governor in 1977 of a Special Committee on Land Production, a Land Sales Targets Committee was formed in May, 1979, under the chairman- ship of the Deputy Secretary for the Environment. The aim of the committee is to ensure that a steady supply of all categories of land is put on the market. Specific sites identified are collated in the Crown Lands and Survey Office into a working five-year land sales forecast.
Administration
Land administration on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon and New Kowloon is the responsibility of the Director of Public Works, who also is the Building Authority and the chairman of the Town Planning Board. The Land and Valuation Branches of the Crown Lands and Survey Office of the Public Works Department, staffed by professional officers, are responsible for carrying out land sales, land and property valuations, land acquisition, estate management and clearance services. Officers also record and analyse all sales and lettings in the territory's urban areas, in order to monitor market trends and factors affecting the value of land and buildings.
The Secretary for the New Territories is responsible for land administration in the New Territories. His supporting staff for this purpose comprises professional officers seconded from the Crown Lands and Survey Office, assisted by his own departmental staff.
Policy
All land in Hong Kong is owned by the Crown, which sells or grants leasehold interests. In the early days, Crown leases were for terms of 75, 99 or 999 years. They have now been standardised in the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon to a term of 75 years, usually renewable for a further 75 years at a reassessed Crown rent under the provisions of the Crown Leases Ordinance. Crown leases for land in the New Territories and New Kowloon are normally sold for the residue of a term of 99 years less the last three days from July 1, 1898, and therefore terminate three days before the expiry of the lease from China.
The government's land policy is to optimise the use of land within the framework of development plans. Most land available for commercial, industrial or residential (other